Structural resource of the aircraft IAR-99 SOIM

Abstract

Aircraft structure fatigue monitoring has been developed over decades presently reaching the stage where it became mandatory for all combat aircraft to be equipped with an airborne fatigue monitoring system. These systems usually collect operational data for calculating the safe fatigue life or inspection interval for the aircraft structure. This paper presents an analysis of the current state of fatigue monitoring systems on the IAR-99 SOIM based on the experience of international fatigue monitoring programs and analysis of structure resource improvement.Aspects related to strain gauge and calibration, flight parameter data gathering, data integrity, comparison with fatigue test results and fatigue damage models are also investigated by means of flight tests.

Keywords

• fatigue management
• structural integrity of the aircraft
• fatigue monitoring
• lifetime estimating
• combat aircraft
• fatigue models